Rack system for dishwasher



Feb 28, 1&7 M. R. KAUFFMAN RACK SYSTEM FOR DISHWASHER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 24, 1965 INVENTOR. MELVN R. KAUFFMAM BY? ms ATTORMEV Feb. 28, 17 M. R. KAUF FMAN 3,396,693

RACK SYSTEM FOR DISHWASHER Filed May 24, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. MELVIN R. KAUFFMAM ms ATTORNELV United States Patent 3,306,693 RACK SYSTEM FOR DISHWASHER Melvin R. Kauffman, Louisville, Ky., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Filed May 24, 1965, Ser. No. 458,269 6 Claims. (Cl. 312269) This invention relates generally to dishwashers and, more particularly, to an improved rack system for a topopening dishwasher.

Two long-standing problems which in the past have limited the appeal of a top-opening dishwasher are, on the one hand, difficulty of access to the lower dish-supporting rack and, on the other hand, limited capacity of the upper dish-supporting rack due to the opening normally provided therein for access to the lower rack. Various solutions have been proposed for each of these problems; however, it has been discovered that a partial solution of one of the problems usually compounds the other problem. That is, any attempt to increase the capacity of the upper rack in a top-opening dishwasher usually results in less accessibility to the lower rack and, similarly, any attempt to increase accessibility to the lower rack usually results in a loss of capacity of the upper rack. The most successful attempts have involved the movement of at least a portion of the upper rack to a position wherein it no longer substantially interferes with access to the lower rack. An example of such an arrangement is that disclosed and claimed by L. W. Guth in US. Patent 3,087,769, issued April 30, 1963, and assigned to the General Electric Company, assignee of the present invention. Another example is that disclosed and claimed by D. E. Payton and W. S. Pattison in their application, Serial No. 458,145, filed concurrently with the present invention and assigned to the General Electric Company, assignee of the present invention. Although each of the aforementioned arrangements constitutes a significant improvement over prior existing devices, it may be desirable under certain conditions to provide a movable upper rack system for a top opening dishwasher having an improved linkage system which significantly reduces cost of manufacture and which further provides an improved path of movement of the movable portion, or oprtions, of the upper rack.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved rack system for the upper portion of a top-opening dishwasher.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a rack system for a top-opening dishwasher having an improved path of movement of the movable portion, or portions, of the upper rack.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved linkage system for a top-opening dishwasher having a movable portion in the upper rack which is significantly simpler than arrangee-mnts heretofore proposed and which, in turn, is significantly less expensive to manufacture. i

Briefly stated, in accordance with one aspect of this invention, an automatic dishwasher is provided with a cabinet having an open top. A closure member is pivotally secured to the cabinet adjacent its open top and serves to close at least a portion of the open top. A wash chamber is defined within the cabinet and a rack is provided to support articles to be washed. Means are provided within the wash chamber to normally support the rack within the upper portion of the wash chamber. An arm is secured to the closure member and depends into the wash chamber when the closure member is closed. The arm has an open-end elongated slot near its distal end and the rack has means extending therefrom which are positioned to enter'the slot as the arm is moved upon opening of the closure member. Inter- "ice action between the slot and the means extending from the rack creates a substantially vertical initial movement of the rack as the closure member is opened. Means may also be provided to control tipping of the rack as it is moved.

While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as the invention, it is believed the invention will be better understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view, partially cut away to show details, of an automatic dishwasher utilizing the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary front view similar to that of FIGURE 1 but showing a closure member of the dishwasher partially open;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to that of FIGURE 2 but showing the closure member pivoted further toward the open position than FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary front view similar to that of FIGURE 1 showing a closure member in the full open position and another closure member in a position between the full open and that shown in FIGURE 3.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIGURE 1 thereof, there is illustrated a top-opening portable dishwasher 10. Dishwasher 10 includes an outer cabinet 11 comprising four substantially vertical interconnected walls encircling a wash chamber 12 adapted to receive articles to be washed therein. The open top of cabinet 11 serves as an access opening for the admission of articles to, and removal of articles from, wash chamber 12. This access opening is provided with a pair of closure members 13 and 14, closure member 13 being pivotally secured to cabinet 11 adjacent its open top by hinge means 15 while closure member 14 is pivotally secured to cabinet 11 by hinge means 16. Hinge means 15 and 16 may include suitable counterbalance means to compensate for the weight of closure members 13 and 14 and the weight of other elements, to be discussed more fully hereinafter, which are moved by the closure members. The lower extremity of wash chamber 12 is defined by a bottom wall 17, the periphery of which is in liquid-tight relationship to the four vertical walls of cabinet 11. Bottom wall 17 has a centrally depressed portion forming a sump 18 in which liquid will collect. Disposed within sump 18 and supported by bottom wall 17 is a pump 19 which is provided with a suitable drive motor (not shown). Mounted for rotation at the top of pump 19 is a reaction-type spray arm 20 and a spray tube 21. Spray tube 21 has a telescoping element 22 which moves upwardly a short distance in response to fluid pressure to provide additional wash action for articles supported in the upper portion of wash chamber 12.

Pump 19 has an inlet adapted to withdraw wash fluid from sump 18 and, during rotation of the drive motor in one direction, pump 19 propels the fluid upwardly into spray arm 20 and spray tube 21. This wash fluid issues from spray arm 20 'and spray tube 21 through orifices provided therein to create a wash action within wash chamber 12. Pump 19 is further adapted to withdraw wash fluid from sump 18 and propel it from dishwasher 10 into the normal household sewer system upon rotation of its drive motor in the opposite direction. An electrical resistance heating element 23 is supported by bottom wall 17 and is provided to facilitate drying of articles within wash chamber 12 upon completionpf washing and rinsing operations.

Suitable sequence control means (not shown) are provided to sequentially energize and de-energize the various aforementioned components to cycle dishwasher 10 through a series of operations constituting an entire automatic dishwashing operation. At the bottom of cabinet 11, casters or rollers 24 may be provided to render dishwasher capable of convenient movement.

Of course, means must be provided within wash chamber 12 to support the articles or dishes in a manner whereby the wash action generated by spray arm 20 and spray tube 21 will effectuate cleansing of the articles. This means includes a lower dish-supporting rack 25 having legs 26 which rest upon bottom wall 17 to support rack 25 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 1. For the purposes of the present invention, rack 25 may be assumed to be entirely conventional in form and of the type commonly employed in a top-opening dishwasher.

As discussed above, top-opening dishwashers of the type illustrated in FIGURE 1, have faced the two-fold problem of providing suitable accessibility to the lower rack while at the same time maintaining maximum capacity of the upper rack. Prior to the introduction of the arrangement described and claimed in the above-mentioned US. Patent 3,087,769, the conventional means for access to the lower rack comprised a large central opening in the stationary upper rack through which articles could be passed to place them in, or remove them from, the lower rack. The arrangement set forth in US. Patent 3,087,769 made a significant contribution to overcoming the above-described two-fold problem by providing a movable section in the otherwise stationary upper rack whereby that movable section could be moved to a position wherein it provided no substantial interference with access to the lower rack. The arrangement described and claimed in copending application Serial No. 458,145, discussed above, provides further contribution in the form of two movable sections of the upper rack wherein the entire upper rack is substantally removed to a position wherein they present no substantial interference with access to the lower rack. The present invention constitutes an improvement over the rack systems disclosed and claimed in US. Patent 3,087,769 and copending application Serial No. 458,145.

Although the present invention is illustrated in an embodiment employing two movable upper rack sections, it should be understood that it is equally adaptable to an embodiment wherein only a single upper rack section is movable or wherein the entire upper rack moves as a unitary structure.

Disposed within the upper portion of wash chamber 12 are a pair of upper racks 27 and 28, each adapted to support articles or dishes in a manner whereby the wash action generated by spray arm 20 and spray tube 21 will effectuate cleansing of the articles. Means, in the form of pins or supports 29 and 30, extend inwardly from the walls of cabinet 11 to support rack 27 in the position illustrated in FIGURE 1 when closure members 13 and 14 are closed. Support 29 is shown in cross-section since it extends from the wall of cabinet 11 which is cut away to show the interior of dishwasher 10. It should be understood that any number of supports similar to supports 29 and 30 may be provided although ideally three such supports would be provided with the third positioned directly behind the support 29 as viewed in FIGURE 1. Similarly, supports 31 and 32 are provided to support rack 28.

In accordance with the present invention, means are provided to automatically move one or more of racks 27 and 28, upon opening of the closure members 13 and 14, to a position wherein they offer no substantial interference with access to the lower rack 25. Closure member 13 has an arm 33 secured thereto and depending into wash chamber 12 when closure member 13 is closed. Near the distal end of arm 33 is an open-end elongated slot 34 which opens toward the direction of travel of arm 33 when closure member 13 is opened. Slot 34, due to its close proximity to the distal end of arm 33, defines a finger 35 having its free end also pointing toward the direction of travel of arm 33, when closure member 13 is opened. Rack 27 has means associated therewith to cooperate with slot 34 and finger 35 whereby rack 27 is automatically moved, upon opening of closure member 13, to a position illustrated in FIGURE 4. These means include a clip 36 rigidly secured to rack 27 and having a pin 37 extending therefrom which enters slot 34 and is engaged by finger 35 as arm 33 moves in response to opening of closure member 13. It should be understood that, in order to provide suitable stability of rack 27 during its movement, and while it is disposed outside wash chamber 12, a second arm identical to arm 33 is disposed on the far side of rack 27, as seen in FIGURE 1. Similarly, a clip and pin identical to clip 36 and pin 37 are provided on the far side of rack 27. These duplicate elements are not visible in any of the figures of the drawings inasmuch as they lie directly behind the numbered elements as viewed in each of the figures.

In order to control tipping of rack 27, and to further generally stabilize rack 27, during the time which it is removed from supports 29 and 30, a link 38 is provided. Link 38 is pivotally secured adjacent one of its ends to a side wall of cabinet 11 by a pin 39. The other end of link 38 has an elongated slot 40 which receives a pin 41 rigidly secured to, and extending from, rack 27.

Rack 28 is provided with elements substantially identical to those discussed above with relation to rack 27. These include an arm 42 provided with a slot 43 defining a finger 44. Rack 28 has a clip 45 rigidly secured thereto and supporting a pin 46. Pin 46 is adapted to enter slot 43 as arm 42 moves upon opening of closure member 14 and is further adapted to be engaged by finger 44 upon such movement. A link 47 is pivotally secured adjacent one of its ends to a wall of cabinet 11 by pin 48. The other end of link 47 is provided with an elongated slot 49 which receives a pin 50 rigidly secured to and extending from rack 28. As previously mentioned with respect to rack 27, the above-described elements associated with rack 28 may be duplicated on the far side of rack 28 as viewed in FIGURE 1 to enhance the stability of rack 28 during its movement and during the time which it is outside wash chamber 12.

The operation of the aforementioned elements is illustrated in FIGURES 24. FIGURE 2 illustrates the position of the various elements upon completion of the first stage of movement. In other words, closure member 13 has been partially opened and arm 33 has pivoted to the extent that pin 37 has entered slot 34 and has been engaged by finger 35. After engagement of finger 35 and pin 37, closure member 13 has been further moved to the extent that rack 27 has been moved substantially vertically to an extent whereby pin 41 has moved up to the upper extremity of slot 40. Thus it can be seen that with the present invention, initial movement of rack 27 is substantially vertical. The upper surface of finger 35 is somewhat inclined, as shown. The inclination imparts a substantially vertical movement to pin 37 as pin 37 moves along that surface of finger 35.

FIGURE 3 illustrates the arrangement in a later stage of movement. The system is illustrated in FIGURE 3 at the instant which pin 37 reaches the end of slot 34 thereby terminating its rectilinear movement relative to finger 35. By comparing the position of rack 27 in FIGURE 3 with its position in FIGURE 2, it can be seen that rack 27 has moved forward, i.e., toward rack 28, a relatively short distance in comparison with the vertical travel it has experienced.

In FIGURE 4 rack 27, and its associated elements, are shown in the position wherein rack 27 is at its farthest point forward. That is, as closure member 13 is opened beyond the position illustrated in FIGURE 4, rack 27 will move upwardly and then rearwardly toward closure member 13 without passing any closer to the rack 28 or closure member 14. Moreover, FIGURE 4 also illustrates the position of rack 28 when closure member 14 has been pivoted to its fully opened position. Rack 28 is completely withdrawn from wash chamber 12 when closure member 14 is in its fully opened position'and is supported by pin 46 engaging the edge of slot 43. Of course, rack 27 would assume a substantially identical position when closure member 13 moves to its fully opened position. As can be seen in FIGURE 4, each of closure members 13 and 14 pivot through an angle substantially greater than 90 between the fully closed position and the fully opened position.

It should be noted from the foregoing description that the present invention provides a lost motion relationship between the movable rack and the elements which impart movement to the rack. This lost motion relationship is provided, on the one hand, by the open-end slot 34 in link 33 which allows closure member 13 to swing through a substantial are before any movement is imparted to rack 27. Once finger 35 engages pin 37 to impart movement to rack 27, a lost motion relationship still exists between finger 35 and pin 37 since, as closure member 13 is further opened, there is relevant movement between these two elements. Also, a lost motion relationship exists between rack 27 and link 38 due to the elongated slot 40 which allows rack 27 to initially move substantially linearly and substantially vertically until pin 41 engages the upper extremity of slot 40. After pin 41 has engaged the upper extremity of slot 40, an arcuate movement is initiated which continues until closure member 13 reaches its fully opened position. The initial vertical movement of rack 27, coupled with the fact that the two lost motion relationships avoid an accentuated arcuate path, results in rack 27 passing relatively close to the cabinet wall to which the associated closure member is hinged. This of course further results in the rack not passing beyond the mid-point of wash chamber 12. In other words, it is possible to make racks 27 and 28 of substantially larger horizontal area, without interference between the racks, than would be possible with a linkage system not involving the aforementioned lost motion relationships.

It should also be noted that the particular embodiment shown in the drawings is arranged so that both the closure members 13 and 14 may be opened simultaneously without interference between their respective racks 27 and 28 during movement thereof. It would be possible to increase the size of one or both of the racks 27 and 28 if it were not desired to maintain the ability to open both closure members simultaneously. Moreover, it should be clear that the present invention is applicable to an arrangement wherein a single closure member spanning the entire open top of cabinet 11 lifts a portion of the upper rack while the other portion remains stationary, or, on the other hand, lifts an entire unitary upper rack.

As will be evident from the foregoing description, certain aspects of the invention are not limited to the particular details ofconstruction of the example illustrated, and it is contemplated that various other modifications or applications will occur to those skilled in the art. It is therefore intended that the appended claims shall cover such modifications and applications as do not depart from the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An automatic dishwasher comprising:

(a) a cabinet having an open top,

(b) a closure member pivotally secured to said cabinet adjacent its open top and serving to close at least a portion of the open top,

(0) said closure member being pivotal through an angle substantially greater than 90,

((1) a wash chamber within said cabinet,

(e) a rack adapted to support articles to be washed,

(f) means within said wash chamber to normally support said rack within the upper portion of said wash chamber, and

(g) an arm secured to said closure member and depending into said wash chamber when said closure member is closed,

(h) said arm having an elongated finger near its distal end defining an open-end slot,

(i) said rack having means extending therefrom and positioned to be engaged by said finger as said arm is moved upon opening of said closure member,

(j) said finger imparting a lifting movement to said rack through said means extending from said rack as said closure member is opened,

(k) said rack being completely withdrawn from said wash chamber as said closure member moves to its fully opened position,

(1) the edge of said slot supporting said rack when said closure member is in its fully opened position.

2. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said finger is inclined upwardly from its free end toward said arm to impart a substantially vertical initial movement to said rack as said finger moves relative to said means extending from said rack.

3. An automatic dishwasher comprising:

(a) a cabinet having four substantially veritical interconnected walls and an open top,

(b) a first closure member pivotally secured to one of said side walls adjacent the top thereof,

(c) a second closure member pivotally secured to, and adjacent the top of, the side wall opposite the side v wall to which said first closure member is secured,

((1) said first closure member and said second closure member each being pivotal through an angle substantially greater than (e) said cabinet and said closure members defining a wash chamber to receive articles to be washed there- (f) a first rack adapted to support articles to be washed.

(g) a second rack adapted to support articles to be Washed,

(h) means within said wash chamber to normally support said first rack within the upper portion of said wash chamber,

(i) means within said wash chamber to normally support said second rack within the upper portion of said wash chamber adjacent said first rack,

(j) a first arm secured to said first closure member and depending into said wash chamber when said first closure member is closed,

(k) said first arm having an elongated first finger near its distal end defining a first open end slot,

(1) said first rack having means extending therefrom and positioned to be engaged by said first finger as said first arm is moved upon opening of said first closure member,

(In) said first finger imparting a lifting movement to said first rack through said means extending from said first rack as said first closure member is opened, and

(n) a second arm secured to said second closure member and depending into said wash chamber when said second closure member is closed,

(0) said second arm having an elongated second finger near its distal end defining a second open end slot, (p) said second rack having means extending therefrom and positioned to be engaged by said second finger as said second arm is moved upon opening of said second closure member,

(q) said second finger imparting a lifting movement to said second rack through said means extending from said second rack as said second closure member is open,

(r) said first rack and said second rack each being completely withdrawn from said wash chamber as said closure members move to their fully opened positions,

(5) the end of said first open end slot supporting said first rack when said first closure member is in its fully opened position and the edge of said second open end slot supporting said second rack when said second closure member is in its fully opened position.

4. The invention defined in claim 3 wherein each of said first and second fingers is inclined upwardly from its free end toward its respective arm to impart a substantially vertical initial movement to its associated rack as each of said first and second fingers moves relative to its associated said means extending from said racks.

5. An automatic dishwasher comprising:

(a) a cabinet having an open top,

(b) a closure member pivotally secured to said cabinet adjacent its open top and serving to close at least a portion of the open top,

() a wash chamber within said cabinet,

(d) a rack adapted to support articles to be washed.

(e) means within said wash chamber to normally support said rack within the supper portion of said wash chamber,

(f) an arm secured to said closure member and depending into said wash chamber when said closure member is closed,

(g) said arm having an elongated finger near its distal end,

(h) said rack having means extending therefrom and positioned to be engaged by said finger as said arm is moved upon opening of said closure member,

(i) said finger imparting a lifting movement to said rack through said means extending from said rack as said closure member is opened,

(j) said finger being inclined upwardly from its free end toward said arm to impart a substantially vertical initial movement to said rack as said finger moves relative to said means extending from said rack,

(k) a link pivoted at one end to said cabinet and having a slot adjacent its other end, and

(1) second means extending from said rack into said slot whereby initial relative movement between said rack and said link occurs and subsequent concurrent movement of both said link and said rack occurs with said link controlling tipping of said rack.

6. An automatic dishwasher comprising:

(a) a cabinet having four substantially vertical interconnected walls and an open top,

(b) a first closure member pivotally secured to one of said side walls adjacent the top thereof,

(c) a second closure member pivotally secured to, and adjacent the top of, the side wall opposite the side wall to which said first closure member is secured,

(d) said cabinet and said closure members defining a wash chamber to receive articles to be washed therein,

(e) a first rack adapted to support articles to be washed,

(f) a second rack adapted to support articles to be washed,

(g) means within said wash chamber to normally support said first rack within the upper portion of said 50 wash chamber, (h) means within said wash chamber to normally support said second rack within the upper portion of said wash chamber adjacent said first rack,

(i) a first arm secured to said first closure member and depending into said wash chamber when said first closure member is closed,

(j) said first arm having an elongated first finger near its distal end,

(k) said first rack having means extending therefrom and positioned to be engaged by said first finger as said first arm is moved upon opening of said first closure member,

(1) said first finger imparting a lifting movement to said first rack through said means extending from said first rack as said first closure member is opened,

(in) a second arm secured to said second closure member and depending into said wash chamber when said second closure member is closed,

(n) said second arm having an elongated second finger near its distal end,

(0) said second rack having means extending therefrom and positioned to be engaged by said second finger as said second arm is moved upon opening of said second closure member,

(p) said second finger imparting a lifting movement to said second rack through said means extending from said second rack as said second closure member is opened,

(q) each of said first and second fingers being inclined upwardly from its free end toward its respective arm to impart a substantially vertical initial movement to itsassociated rack as each of said first and second fingers moves relative to its associated said means extending from said racks,

(r) a first link pivoted at one end tosaid cabinet and having a slot adjacent its other end,

(s) second means extending from said first rack into said slot whereby initial relative movement between said first rack and said first link occurs and subsequent concurrent movement of both said first link and said first rack occurs with said first link controlling tipping of said first rack,

(t) a second link pivoted at one end to said cabinet and having a slot adjacent its other end, and

(u) second means extending from said second rack into said slot in said second link whereby initial relative movement between said second rack and said second link occurs and subsequent concurrent movement of both said second link and said second rack occurs with said second link controlling tipping of said second rack.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1936 Czischki et a1 3l2269 3/1957 Steinbock 21100 X 

1. AN AUTOMATIC DISHWASHER COMPRISING: (A) A CABINET HAVING AN OPEN TOP, (B) A CLOSURE MEMBER PIVOTALLY SECURED TO SAID CABINET ADJACENT ITS OPEN TOP AND SERVING TO CLOSE AT LEAST A PORTION OF THE OPEN TOP, (C) SAID CLOSURE MEMBER BEING PIVOTAL THROUGH AN ANGLE SUBSTANTIALLY GREATER THAN 90*, (D) A WASH CHAMBER WITHIN SAID CABINET, (E) A RACK ADAPTED TO SUPPORT ARTICLES TO BE WASHED, (F) MEANS WITHIN SAID WASH CHAMBER TO NORMALLY SUPPORT SAID RACK WITHIN THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID WASH CHAMBER, AND (G) AN ARM SECURED TO SAID CLOSURE MEMBER AND DEPENDING INTO SAID WASH CHAMBER WHEN SAID CLOSURE MEMBER IS CLOSED, (H) SAID ARM HAVING AN ELONGATED FINGER NEAR ITS DISTAL END DEFINING AN OPEN-END SLOT, (I) SAID RACK HAVING MEANS EXTENDING THEREFROM AND POSITIONED TO BE ENGAGED BY SAID FINGER AS SAID ARM IS MOVED UPON OPENING OF SAID CLOSURE MEMBER, (J) SAID FINGER IMPARTING A LIFTING MOVEMENT TO SAID RACK THROUGH SAID MEANS EXTENDING FROM SAID RACK AS SAID CLOSURE MEMBER IS OPENED, (K) SAID RACK BEING COMPLETELY WITHDRAWN FROM SAID WASH CHAMBER AS SAID CLOSURE MEMBER MOVES TO ITS FULLY OPENED POSITION, (L) THE EDGE OF SAID SLOT SUPPORTING SAID RACK WHEN SAID CLOSURE MEMBER IS IN ITS FULLY OPENED POSITION. 